Luke 2:8-20
Verse 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Their night had started out as every other night with the sheep. These shepherds were feeling like society outcasts when things happened which changed their lives forever. It started with a startling moment as suddenly there was a stranger their midst. The stranger had a bright light shining about it and it was quite obvious they were being visited by an angel.
These rugged men wouldn’t necessarily have known about an angel visiting a priest and young couple, but they knew the Lord had been quiet for 400 years and that made their visitor even more a shock. But the message they received that night revived their souls. This was not an ordinary evening and the excitement which must have energized them as they hurried to town didn’t lessen when they saw the Babe just as they had been told.
While this part of the story is so familiar to us, it isn’t where their story ends. In fact what they did next is a great example for us as we look at what it means to be revived. These men weren’t dead in the physical sense but the nation as a whole had been on spiritual life support for generations. There were those who knew and followed the law to the very letter but they weren’t truly alive. But then came that miraculous night.
Seeing that Babe and hearing His infant sounds did something to these men. They went into town knowing the people of Bethlehem didn’t think much of them but they left the Babe and His parents knowing they had to make Him known. They may have come into town quietly but they were leaving, rejoicing and praising God.
It is so reflective of life in the modern church. The church has tried for decades to quietly go about her business but not really doing the business of Christ. Repentance comes when we see Jesus for who He is and go out proclaiming Him. When we come face to face with Jesus in life, we will find ourselves seeing things in a fresh, honest way and that is what will cause a revival in our lives and send us out into the world to make a difference for Him. Glorifying and praising Him all the way.
Making It Personal
When have you felt like God was showing Himself to you in a fresh way? What resulted from that new understanding? Has your glorifying and praising Him continued and grown?
Making It Personal Kids
When has Jesus made you feel alive as a Christian? Did you tell anyone about it? Who can you tell about being alive in Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father, we repent of the times we have been willing to live on spiritual life support instead of being fully alive in You. Give us the shock we need to awaken us to who You are so we can respond with praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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